Tray with piercing element for use with a shisha device

Abstract

A tray for use with a shisha device includes a cavity for receiving a cartridge including an aerosol-forming substrate. The tray is configured to form an opening in the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity. The opening formed in the cartridge when the cartridge and tray are received by the shisha device allows air to flow through the cartridge.

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device and a cartridge containing aerosol-forming substrate for use in an aerosol-generating device; and more particularly to an aerosol-generating device having a tray for holding a cartridge containing aerosol-forming substrate.

[0002] Traditional shisha devices are used to smoke and are configured so that vapour and smoke pass through a water pool before being inhaled by a consumer. Shisha devices can include one outlet or more than one outlet so that the device can be used by more than one consumer at a time. Many people view the use of shisha devices as a leisure activity and a social experience.

[0003] Typically, traditional shisha is used in combination with a substrate, sometimes referred to in the art as shisha tobacco, tobacco molasses, or simply molasses. Traditional shisha substrates have a relatively high sugar content (in some cases up to -50%, whereas traditional tobacco substrates (such as combustible cigarettes) typically have -20%). The tobacco used in shisha devices can be mixed with other ingredients to, for example, increase the volume of vapour and smoke produced, change the taste, or both.

[0004] Traditional shisha devices employ charcoal (such as charcoal pellets) to heat and sometimes burn the tobacco substrate to generate an aerosol for inhalation by a user. The use of charcoal to heat the tobacco can result in complete or partial combustion of the tobacco or other ingredients. Additionally, the charcoal can generate harmful or potentially harmful products, such as carbon monoxide, which can mix with the shisha vapour and pass through the water pool to the outlet.

[0005] One approach to reducing the production of carbon monoxide and combustion by-products is to employ e-liquid rather than tobacco. Shisha devices that employ e-liquid eliminate combustion by-products, but deprive the shisha consumer of the traditional tobacco-based experience.

[0006] Other shisha devices have been proposed that employ an electric heater to heat but not burn the tobacco. Such electrically heated heat-not-burn shisha devices heat the tobacco substrate to a temperature sufficient to generate an aerosol from the substrate without combusting the substrate, and thus reduce or eliminate by-products associated with tobacco combustion.

[0007] Shisha devices can employ a cartridge for containing aerosol-forming substrate. The cartridge can be filled with such aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate can include tobacco, preferably a shisha substrate such as molasses - a mixture of tobacco, water, sugar, and other components (e.g. glycerol, flavourings, etc.). A heating system of the electrically heated shisha device heats the contents of the cartridge to generate an aerosol that is delivered to the user through an airflow path.

[0008] To facilitate airflow through the cartridge and flow of aerosol from the cartridge, the hookah cartridge can have one or more holes through one or more walls. The cartridge can include one or more holes at the top, one or more holes at the bottom, or both one or more holes at the top and one or more holes at the bottom. Alternatively, the top can be open, i.e., the top wall can be partially or completely absent. During storage, any holes or openings in the top and bottom walls can be closed by a removable (e.g., peelable) sealing layer such as a film, sticker, or liner. The removable layer can protect the contents (e.g., honey) from exposure to air and oxygen. The removable layer can be removed (e.g., pulled or peeled) by the user prior to first use of the cartridge.

[0009] Holes or openings in the cartridge, if not sealed, can result in loss of freshness (e.g., moisture content) or contamination of the substrate, as well as leakage issues. If the entire contents of the cartridge are not for single use, it can be desirable to close or seal the openings or holes of the cartridge prior to use or between uses for one or more reasons, such as to maintain freshness, prevent leakage of the substrate, or to maintain the quality and integrity of the substrate during storage.

[0010] However, peeling or removing the seal to expose the openings in the cartridge can result in some of the contents splashing or leaking onto the user’s hands. The user can also splash or leak the contents of the cartridge onto their hands when removing the used cartridge from the hookah device. Additionally, the cartridge can be hot when removed from the hookah device, which can cause some discomfort to the user grasping the cartridge for removal.

[0011] Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a tray for use with a hookah device and a hookah device or cartridge including such a tray. The cartridge can be placed in the tray, and the user can hold the tray instead of the cartridge for one or more steps associated with using the cartridge with the hookah device. For example, the tray can be used to place the cartridge in the hookah device, can be used to remove the cartridge from the hookah device, or can be used to both place the cartridge in the hookah device and remove the cartridge from the hookah device. Preferably, the cartridge can be used with the hookah device when the cartridge is received in the tray. That is, the hookah device can be preferably operable to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge for delivery to a user when the tray with the received cartridge is inserted into the hookah device.

[0012] When the cartridge is used with a shisha device, the tray can be configured to pierce the cartridge to introduce openings for airflow through the cartridge. Thus, when the cartridge is pierced by the tray, the user can avoid direct contact with the cartridge. Preferably, the cartridge does not include pre-formed openings covered by a removable seal, so that the user can avoid accidental contact with the cartridge contents when the seal is removed. Instead, the tray can be used to pierce the cartridge to form one or more openings. In addition to preventing accidental contact of the cartridge contents with the user’s hands, a cartridge without pre-formed holes tends to have the advantage of a longer shelf life relative to a cartridge with pre-formed holes, even if covered by a removable seal.

[0013] The tray can include one or more features or elements that facilitate proper insertion of the cartridge into the shisha device, which can provide a more reliable experience for the user.

[0014] The tray can prevent the user from directly contacting a hot surface of the shisha device or cartridge (after being heated by the shisha device), which can reduce the chance of discomfort from direct contact with a hot surface. The tray can facilitate disposal of the cartridge after use in the shisha device.

[0015] According to another embodiment, a tray for use with a shisha device can include a body defining a cavity for receiving a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate. The cavity can have an open top end into which the cartridge can be inserted, and can have a bottom end. The tray can include a piercing element extending into the cavity from the bottom end of the cavity. The piercing element can be positioned to pierce the cartridge at a first surface when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity of the tray and a force is applied to the cartridge to move the first surface toward the bottom end of the cavity.

[0016] The body of the tray can include a sidewall forming an inner surface of the cavity. The sidewall can be formed of a thermally conductive material. The thermally conductive material can transfer heat from a heating element of the shisha device to the cartridge to heat the aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge to vaporize one or more components of the substrate for delivery to the user in an aerosol.

[0017] At least a portion of the sidewall can taper inwardly in a direction from the open top end of the cavity to the bottom end of the cavity. This shape can help to position a similarly shaped cartridge within the cavity. For example, the cartridge can be easily inserted until a bottom portion of the cartridge has a segment of the tapered sidewall. For example, the cartridge can be frustoconical, and the sidewall can be configured to contact the cartridge along a length of the cartridge.

[0018] The tray can include a handle extending from the body away from the cavity. The handle can allow the user to manipulate the cartridge during manipulation without touching the cartridge.

[0019] The handle can include a thermally insulating material. The thermal insulation can allow the user to grip the handle without experiencing discomfort that can be associated with gripping a hot cartridge removed from a shisha device shortly after the cartridge has been heated by the device.

[0020] The tray can include a sidewall forming an inner surface of the cavity, and can include an outer wall. A second cavity can be formed between the outer wall and the sidewall forming the inner surface of the cavity. The second cavity can be configured to receive a portion of the hookah device. That is, the tray can be disposed around a portion of the hookah device such that the portion of the hookah device is received in the second cavity between the outer wall and the sidewall forming the inner surface of the cavity. The outer wall can be thermally isolated from the sidewall. Thus, heat from a heating element of the hookah can be preferentially transferred to the cartridge through the sidewall of the tray, rather than through the outer wall of the tray.

[0021] The tray can include a lid for covering the open top end of the cavity. The lid can include a lid piercing element extending from a surface configured to face the cavity when the lid covers the open top end of the cavity. The piercing element of the lid can extend into the cavity and can be positioned to pierce the cartridge at a second surface when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity of the tray and a force is applied to the lid to cause the piercing element of the lid to move toward the bottom end of the cavity.

[0022] According to another embodiment, a tray for use with a hookah device includes a body defining a cavity for receiving a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate. The cavity has an open top end into which the cartridge can be inserted, and has a bottom end. The tray includes a piercing element extending into the cavity from the bottom end of the cavity. The piercing element is positioned to pierce the cartridge at a first surface when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity of the tray and a force is applied to the cartridge to cause the first surface of the cartridge to move toward the bottom end of the cavity.

[0023] The body of the tray can include a sidewall forming an inner surface of the cavity. The sidewall can be formed of a thermally conductive material. At least a portion of the sidewall can taper inwardly in a direction from the open top end of the cavity to the bottom end of the cavity. The tray can include a handle extending from the body away from the cavity. The handle can include a thermally insulating material. The tray can include a sidewall forming an inner surface of the cavity, and can include an outer wall. A second cavity can be formed between the outer wall and the sidewall forming the inner surface of the cavity. The second cavity can be configured to receive a portion of the hookah device. The tray can include a lid for covering the open top end of the cavity. The lid can include a lid piercing element. The piercing element of the lid can extend from a surface configured to face the cavity when the lid covers the open top end of the cavity. The piercing element can extend into the cavity and can be positioned to pierce the cartridge at a second surface when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity of the tray and a force is applied to the lid to cause the piercing element of the lid to move toward the bottom end of the cavity.

[0024] Unless otherwise defined, the terms used in the present disclosure shall have their generally accepted meanings.

[0025] As used herein, the term "aerosol" refers to a suspension of solid particles or liquid droplets, or a combination of solid particles and liquid droplets in a gas. The gas can be air. The solid particles or liquid droplets can include one or more volatile flavor compounds. The aerosol can be visible or invisible. The aerosol can include a vapor of a substance that is normally a liquid or a solid at room temperature. The aerosol can include a vapor of a substance that is normally a liquid or a solid at room temperature, as well as solid particles or liquid droplets or a combination of solid particles and liquid droplets. In some embodiments, the aerosol includes nicotine.

[0026] As used herein, the term "aerosol-forming substrate" refers to a material capable of releasing one or more volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate can be heated to volatilize one or more components of the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol. As an alternative to heating or burning, in some cases, the volatile compounds can be released by a chemical reaction or by a mechanical stimulus such as ultrasonic waves. The aerosol-forming substrate can be disposed in the interior of the cartridge. The aerosol-forming substrate can be a solid or a liquid, or can include solid and liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate can be adsorbed, coated, impregnated, or otherwise loaded onto a carrier or support. The aerosol-forming substrate can include nicotine. The aerosol-forming substrate can include plant-based material. The aerosol-forming substrate can include tobacco. The aerosol-forming substrate can include tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavor compounds that are released from the aerosol-forming substrate upon heating. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate can include tobacco-free material. The aerosol-forming substrate can include homogenized plant-based material. The aerosol-forming substrate can include homogenized tobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate can include at least one aerosol former. The aerosol-forming substrate can include other additives and ingredients, such as flavorants.

[0027] As used herein, the terms "integral" and "integrally formed" describe elements formed in one piece (a single integral piece). The integral or integrally formed components can be configured such that they cannot be removed from one another without causing structural damage to the piece.

[0028] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" also encompass embodiments with plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0029] As used herein, "or" is generally employed in its sense of "one or the other or both" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0030] The term "about" used in connection with a value herein includes normal fluctuations of a measured value as expected by a person of ordinary skill in the art and is understood to have the same meaning as "approximately." The term "about" is understood to encompass a typical error range. A typical error range can be, for example, ±5% of the value.

[0031] As used herein, "have," "having," "include," "including," "include," "includes," "comprise," "comprising," "comprises," and the like can be used in an open-ended sense to mean "including, but not limited to," and generally can be used to encompass one or more elements, steps, features, structures, or the like.

[0032] The words "preferred" and "preferably" refer to embodiments of the invention that can provide certain benefits under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments can also be preferred under the same or other circumstances. Additionally, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the present disclosure including the claims.

[0033] The term "substantially" modifies the term that follows it to mean the term is true within at least about 90%, at least about 95%, or at least about 98%. The term "non-substantially" has the opposite meaning of "substantially," i.e., the term that follows it is true within no more than 10%, no more than 5%, or no more than 2%.

[0034] Any directions referred to herein such as "top," "bottom," "left," "right," "upper," "lower," and other like terms are described herein for clarity and brevity and do not limit the actual device or system to the positions or orientations described. The devices and systems described herein can be used in multiple orientations and positions.

[0035] Any suitable shisha cartridge can be used with a tray as described in the present disclosure. The cartridge can include a body defining a cavity. An aerosol-forming substrate can be disposed in the cavity of the cartridge. The body is preferably formed of one or more heat-resistant materials, such as heat-resistant metals or polymers. The body can include a thermally conductive material. For example, the body can include any of the following: aluminum, copper, zinc, nickel, silver, any alloys thereof, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the body includes aluminum.

[0036] The cartridge can be any suitable shape. For example, the cartridge can have a shape configured to be received by the tray. The cartridge can have a generally cuboidal, cylindrical, frustoconical, or any other suitable shape. Preferably, the cartridge has a generally cylindrical or frustoconical shape.

[0037] The shisha device is configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge. Preferably, the shisha device is configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge when the cartridge is disposed in the tray. The shisha device can be configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge by conduction. Preferably, the cartridge and tray are shaped and sized to allow contact with or minimise the distance to the heating element of the shisha device. Advantageously, this provides efficient heat transfer from the heating element to the aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge. The heat can be generated by any suitable mechanism, such as by resistive heating or by induction. To facilitate induction heating, the cartridge can be provided with a susceptor. For example, the cartridge body can be made of or include a material that is capable of acting as a susceptor, such as aluminium, or a susceptor material can be provided within the cavity of the cartridge. The susceptor material can be provided within the cavity of the cartridge in any form, such as a powder, a solid block, a fragment, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the tray can include a susceptor material.

[0038] Any suitable aerosol-forming substrate can be provided in the cavity defined by the body of the cartridge. The aerosol-forming substrate is preferably a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds. The aerosol-forming substrate is preferably a substrate capable of releasing compounds that can form an aerosol. Volatile compounds can be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. Volatile compounds can be released by a chemical reaction or by a mechanical stimulus, such as ultrasound. The aerosol-forming substrate can be a solid or a liquid, or can include solid and liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate can be adsorbed, coated, impregnated or otherwise loaded onto a carrier or support.

[0039] The aerosol-forming substrate can include nicotine. The nicotine-containing aerosol-forming substrate can include a nicotine salt substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate can include a plant substrate material. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate includes tobacco. Preferably, the tobacco-containing material includes volatile tobacco flavour compounds that are released from the aerosol-forming substrate upon heating. The aerosol-forming substrate can include homogenised tobacco material. The homogenised tobacco material can be formed by coagulation of particulate tobacco. Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol-forming substrate can include a tobacco-free material. The aerosol-forming substrate can include a homogenised plant substrate material. The aerosol-forming substrate can include at least one aerosol former. The aerosol-forming substrate can include other additives and ingredients, such as flavourants. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate is a shisha substrate. A shisha substrate is understood to mean a consumable material suitable for use in a shisha device. The shisha substrate can include molasses.

[0040] The aerosol-forming substrate can include, for example, one or more of a powder, a fine particle, a pellet, a fragment, a fine strip, a strip or a sheet. The aerosol-forming substrate can contain one or more of the following: herbal plant leaf, tobacco leaf, tobacco leaf vein segment, reconstituted tobacco, homogenised tobacco, extruded tobacco and expanded tobacco.

[0041] The aerosol-forming substrate can comprise at least one aerosol former. Suitable aerosol formers include a compound or mixture of compounds which, in use, favour the formation of a dense and stable aerosol and are substantially resistant to thermal degradation at the operating temperature of the shisha device. Suitable aerosol formers are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to: polyhydric alcohols such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and glycerol; esters of polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol monoacetate, glycerol diacetate or glycerol triacetate; and fatty acid esters of mono-, di- or poly-carboxylic acids such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. Particularly preferred aerosol formers are polyhydric alcohols or mixtures thereof, for example triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and most preferably glycerol. The aerosol-forming substrate can include any suitable amount of aerosol former. For example, the aerosol former content of the substrate can be equal to or greater than 5% by dry weight, and preferably greater than 30% by dry weight. The aerosol former content can be less than about 95% by dry weight. Preferably, the content of aerosol former is up to about 55%.

[0042] The aerosol-forming substrate preferably includes nicotine and at least one aerosol former. In some embodiments, the aerosol former is glycerol or a mixture of glycerol and one or more other suitable aerosol formers such as those listed above.

[0043] The aerosol-forming substrate can include other additives and ingredients such as flavourings and sweeteners etc. In some examples, the aerosol-forming substrate includes any suitable amount of one or more sugars. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate contains invert sugar. Invert sugar is a mixture of glucose and fructose obtained by splitting sucrose. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate includes about 1% to about 40% by weight of sugar such as invert sugar. In some examples, the one or more sugars can be mixed with a suitable carrier such as corn starch or maltodextrin.

[0044] In some examples, the aerosol-forming substrate includes one or more sensory enhancers. Suitable sensory enhancers include flavourings and sensates such as cooling agents. Suitable flavourings include natural or synthetic menthol, peppermint, spearmint, coffee, tea, flavourings such as cinnamon, clove, ginger or combinations thereof, cocoa, vanilla, fruit flavours, chocolate, eucalyptus, geranium, eugenol, agave, juniper, anethole, linalool and any combination thereof.

[0045] In some examples, the aerosol-forming substrate is in the form of a suspension. For example, the aerosol-forming substrate can comprise molasses. As used herein, "molasses" refers to an aerosol-forming substrate composition comprising about 20% or more sugar. For example, the molasses can comprise at least about 25% sugar by weight, such as at least about 35% sugar by weight. Typically, the molasses will comprise less than about 60% sugar by weight, such as less than about 50% sugar by weight.

[0046] Any suitable amount of aerosol-forming substrate (e.g., molasses or tobacco substrate) can be provided in the cavity. In some preferred embodiments, about 3g to about 25g of aerosol-forming substrate is provided in the cavity. The cartridge can comprise at least 6g, at least 7g, at least 8g, or at least 9g of aerosol-forming substrate. The cartridge can comprise up to 15g, up to 12g; up to 11g, or up to 10g of aerosol-forming substrate. Preferably, about 7g to about 13g of aerosol-forming substrate is provided in the cavity.

[0047] The aerosol-forming substrate can be provided on or embedded in a heat stable carrier. As used herein, the term "heat stable" means a material that does not substantially degrade at temperatures to which the substrate is typically heated (e.g., about 150°C to about 300°C). The carrier can comprise a thin layer on which the substrate is deposited on a first major surface, a second major outer surface, or both the first major surface and the second major surface. The carrier can be formed of, for example, a paper or paper-like material, a non-woven carbon fiber mat, a low mass open mesh metallic screen, or a perforated metallic foil, or any other heat stable polymeric substrate. Alternatively, the carrier can be in the form of a powder, granules, pellets, chips, fine strips, strips, or a sheet. The carrier can be a non-woven fabric or a bundle of fibers in which a tobacco component has been incorporated. The non-woven fabric or bundle of fibers can comprise, for example, carbon fibers, natural cellulose fibers, or cellulose-derived fibers.

[0048] The body of the cartridge can include one or more walls. In some embodiments, the body includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall. The side wall can be cylindrical or frustoconical, extending from the bottom to the top. The body can include one or more parts. For example, the side wall and the bottom wall can be a single part that is integral. The side wall and the bottom wall can be two parts that are configured to engage one another in any suitable manner. For example, the side wall and the bottom wall can be configured to engage one another by a threaded engagement or an interference fit. The side wall and the bottom wall can be two parts that are bonded together. For example, the side wall and the bottom wall can be bonded together by a weld or by an adhesive. The top and the side wall can be a single unitary part. The side wall and the top wall can be two parts that are configured to engage one another in any suitable manner. For example, the side wall and the top wall can be configured to engage one another by a threaded engagement or an interference fit. The side wall and the top wall can be two parts that are bonded together. For example, the side wall and the top wall can be bonded together by a weld or by an adhesive. The top wall, the side wall, and the bottom wall can each be a single unitary part. The top wall, the side wall, and the bottom wall can be three separate parts that are configured to engage one another in any suitable manner. For example, the top wall, the side wall, and the bottom wall can be configured to engage one another by a threaded engagement, an interference fit, a weld, or an adhesive.

[0049] One or more walls of the body can form a heatable wall or surface. As used herein, "heatable wall" and "heatable surface" mean a region of a wall or surface to which heat can be applied directly or indirectly. The heatable wall or surface can serve as a heat transfer surface through which heat can be transferred from outside of the body to the cavity or to an inner surface of the cavity.

[0050] Preferably, the body of the cartridge has a length (e.g., an axial length along a vertical central axis) of about 15 cm or less. In some embodiments, the length of the body is about 10 cm or less. The body can have an inner diameter of about 1 cm or more. The inner diameter of the body can be about 1.75 cm or more. The cartridge can have a heatable surface area in the cavity of about 25 cm 2 to about 100 cm 2 , such as about 70 cm 2 to about 100 cm 2 . The volume of the cavity can be about 10 cm 3 to about 50 cm 3 ; preferably about 25 cm 3 to about 40 cm 3 . In some embodiments, the length of the body is in the range of about 3.5 cm to about 7 cm. The inner diameter of the body can be about 1.5 cm to about 4 cm. The cartridge can have a heatable surface area in the cavity of about 30 cm 2 to about 100 cm 2 , such as about 70 cm 2 to about 100 cm 2heatable surface area. The volume of the cavity can be about 10 cm 3 to about 50 cm 3 ; preferably about 25 cm 3 to about 40 cm 3 . Preferably, the body is cylindrical or frustoconical.

[0051] The cartridge body can include one or more openings or vents through one or more walls of the body. The vents can be inlets, outlets, or both inlets and outlets. The vents can be provided at the bottom wall, the top wall, the sides, or a combination thereof of the cartridge. Preferably, the cartridge body does not include any openings or vents prior to being placed in the tray. Preferably, the tray is configured to pierce the cartridge to form one or more openings or vents in the cartridge.

[0052] The cartridge body can include one or more openings or vents prior to being pierced by the piercing element of the waterpipe device. The cartridge can include one or more additional openings after being pierced by the piercing element.

[0053] After piercing the cartridge, the cartridge can include one or more inlets and one or more outlets to allow air to flow through the aerosol-forming substrate when the cartridge is used with the waterpipe device. In some embodiments, the top wall of the cartridge can be absent or can define one or more openings to form the one or more inlets of the cartridge. The bottom wall of the cartridge can define one or more openings to form the one or more outlets of the cartridge.

[0054] The one or more openings formed by the tray, together with the openings present in the cartridge, if any, prior to being pierced by the piercing element of the tray, can form one or more inlets and outlets sized and shaped to provide a suitable draw resistance (RTD) through the cartridge. In some examples, the RTD through the cartridge from the one or more inlets to the one or more outlets can be about 10 mm H2O to about 50 mm H2O, preferably about 20 mm H2O to about 40 mm H2O. The RTD of a sample refers to the static pressure difference between the two ends of the sample when air flow is traversing the sample under steady conditions in which the volumetric flow rate at the output end is 17.5 milliliters per second. The RTD of a sample can be measured using the method specified in ISO Standard 6565:2002.

[0055] The one or more openings on the body can cover 5% or more, 10% or more, 15% or more, 20% or more, or 25% or more of the area of the wall in which the openings are located. For example, if the openings are on the top wall, the openings can cover at least 5% of the area of the top wall. The one or more openings on the body can cover 75% or less, 50% or less, 40% or less, or 30% or less of the area of the wall in which the openings are located.

[0056] If the cartridge includes any openings or vents prior to being pierced by the piercing element of the waterpipe device, the cartridge can further include a seal or layer that covers the openings or vents prior to use. Preferably, the seal is sufficient to prevent air from flowing through the openings or vents to prevent leakage of the contents of the cartridge and to extend the shelf life. The seal can include a peelable label, sticker, foil, or the like. The label, sticker, or foil can be affixed to the cartridge in any suitable manner, such as by adhesive, crimping, welding, or otherwise joining to the container. The seal can include a tab that can be grasped to peel or remove the label, sticker, or foil from the cartridge.

[0057] The tray is configured to receive the cartridge and is configured to be received by the waterpipe device. The tray includes a body that defines a cavity for receiving the cartridge. The cavity of the tray has an open top end into which the cartridge can be inserted. The tray has a bottom end. The bottom end can include one or more openings to allow air to flow through the cartridge to exit the bottom end. The tray includes a piercing element that extends into the cavity from the bottom end. The piercing element is configured to pierce the cartridge when the cartridge is placed in the tray and a force is applied to the cartridge to move the first surface of the cartridge toward the bottom end of the cavity. The piercing element can include one or more elongate elements. The one or more elongate elements are configured to pierce the cartridge. The one or more elongate elements can be hollow. The one or more elongate elements can be in communication with the openings at the bottom end of the cavity such that air flowing through the cartridge can flow through the hollow elongate elements and out the bottom end of the tray.

[0058] The body of the cartridge preferably includes a sidewall that forms an inner surface of the cavity. At least a portion of the inner surface of the cavity can be configured to contact an outer surface of the cartridge when the cartridge is received in the cavity of the tray. The shape of the portion of the inner surface formed by the sidewall that contacts the cartridge is preferably substantially the same as the shape of the outer surface of the cartridge. In some embodiments, the shape of the portion of the inner surface formed by the sidewall is shaped to contact a cylindrical cartridge or a frustoconical cartridge.

[0059] Preferably, at least a portion of the sidewall tapers inwardly in a direction from the open top end of the cavity to the bottom end of the cavity. As discussed in more detail below, this tapered configuration can prevent the cartridge from being inserted into the cavity beyond an intended position, which can facilitate the reliable formation of an opening in the cartridge by the piercing element. The tapered configuration can also ensure proper seating of the cartridge in the tray. In some embodiments, the cartridge has a frustoconical shape and the sidewall is configured to contact the cartridge along the length of the cartridge.

[0060] Preferably, the sidewall of the tray includes a thermally conductive material. Examples of thermally conductive materials that can form the sidewall of the tray include aluminum, copper, zinc, nickel, silver, any alloys thereof, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the sidewall of the tray comprises aluminum.

[0061] The sidewall of the tray can have any suitable thickness. If a less thermally conductive material is used to form the sidewall, the thickness of the sidewall is reduced because a thinner structure can transfer heat more efficiently than a thicker structure.

[0062] Preferably, at least a portion of the surface of the side wall opposite the inner surface of the side wall configured to receive the cartridge (for convenience, this opposite surface will be referred to herein as the outer surface of the side wall) is configured to contact the inner surface of the receptacle of the hookah device when the tray is received by the hookah device, at least a portion of which is preferably formed by a heating element. Preferably, the shape of the portion of the outer surface of the side wall that contacts the inner surface of the receptacle of the hookah device is substantially the same as the shape of the inner surface of the receptacle. In some embodiments, the shape of the portion of the outer surface of the side wall is cylindrical or frustoconical.

[0063] The tray can include a handle portion extending from the body away from the cavity. The handle portion can be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials. Preferably, the handle portion includes a thermally insulating material. Examples of thermally insulating materials from which the handle portion of the tray can be formed include fiberglass, polyurethane, polystyrene, silica aerogel, or combinations thereof.

[0064] The tray can include an outer wall such that a second cavity is formed between the outer wall and the side wall forming the inner surface of the cavity. Preferably, the second cavity is configured to receive a portion of the hookah device such that the tray can be placed around a portion of the hookah device. Preferably, the outer wall is thermally insulated from the side wall such that heat from the side wall resulting from, for example, contact with a heating element of the hookah device is substantially not transferred to the outer wall.

[0065] The outer wall can be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials. Preferably, the outer wall includes a thermally insulating material. Examples of thermally insulating materials from which the outer wall of the tray can be formed include fiberglass, polyurethane, polystyrene, silica aerogel, or combinations thereof.

[0066] The tray can include any suitable piercing element extending from the bottom end into the cavity configured to receive the cartridge. Preferably, the piercing element includes one or more elongate elements. The one or more elongate elements are configured to pierce the cartridge. The one or more elongate elements can include a tapered end. The one or more elongate elements can be configured to pierce the cartridge. The one or more elongate elements can be hollow. The one or more elongate elements can be hollow and can be configured to pierce the cartridge to allow air to flow through the hollow portion of the elongate element. Preferably, the hollow elongate element provides a suitable opening formed to provide a suitable RTD through the cartridge, such as the RTD discussed above. By tapering the side wall of the cartridge inwardly from the open top end of the cavity toward the bottom end of the cavity, the distance that the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge can be controlled such that the opening formed in the cartridge by the piercing element can be controlled. That is, the tapered side wall can prevent the cartridge from being inserted into the tray beyond an intended position, which would reliably ensure that the distance that the one or more elongate elements of the piercing element extend into the cartridge is substantially the same over time for each cartridge inserted into the tray, provided that each cartridge has substantially the same size and shape.

[0067] The tray can include a lid for covering the open top end of the cavity defined by the body of the tray. The lid can include a lid piercing element extending from a lid surface configured to face the cavity when the lid covers the open top end of the cavity. The lid piercing element extends into the cavity and is positioned to pierce the cartridge at the top surface when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity and a force is applied to the lid to cause the lid piercing element to move toward the bottom end of the cavity. Preferably, the lid piercing element includes one or more elongate elements. The one or more elongate elements are configured to pierce the cartridge. The one or more elongate elements can include a tapered end. The one or more elongate elements can be configured to pierce the cartridge. The one or more elongate elements can be hollow. The one or more elongate elements can be hollow and can allow air to flow through the hollow portion of the elongate element. Preferably, the hollow elongate element provides a suitable opening formed to provide a suitable RTD through the cartridge, such as the RTD discussed above.

[0068] The tray can be used with any suitable cartridge and any suitable shisha device. Preferably, the shisha device is configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge sufficiently to vaporize one or more components of the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol when disposed in the tray but not to combust the aerosol-forming substrate. For example, the shisha device can be configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature in a range of about 150°C to about 300°C; more preferably about 180°C to about 250°C or about 200°C to about 230°C.

[0069] The shisha device can include a receptacle for receiving the cartridge and the tray. The shisha device can include a heating element configured to contact or be proximate to the body of the cartridge when the cartridge and the tray are received in the receptacle. The heating element can form at least a portion of the receptacle. For example, the heating element can form at least a portion of a surface of the receptacle. The shisha cartridge can be configured to transfer heat from the heating element to the aerosol-forming substrate in the cavity by conduction. In some embodiments, the heating element includes an electrical heating element. In some embodiments, the heating element includes an electrical resistance heating component. For example, the heating element can include one or more electrical resistance wires or other electrical resistance elements. The electrical resistance wires can be in contact with a thermally conductive material to distribute the generated heat over a wider area. Examples of suitable electrically conductive materials include aluminum, copper, zinc, nickel, silver, and combinations thereof. The heating element can form at least a portion of a surface of the receptacle.

[0070] Preferably, at least a portion of the receptacle tapers inward in a direction in which the tray is configured to be inserted into the receptacle. In some embodiments, an outer surface of the sidewall of the tray has a frustoconical shape and the receptacle is configured to contact the sidewall along a length of the sidewall of the tray.

[0071] The shisha device can comprise control electronics operably coupled to the heating element. The control electronics can be configured to control heating of the heating element. The control electronics can be configured to control a temperature to which the aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge is heated. The control electronics can be provided in any suitable form and may, for example, comprise a controller or a memory and a controller. The controller can comprise one or more of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor, a gate array, a microprocessor, or equivalent discrete or integrated logic circuitry. The control electronics can comprise a memory containing instructions that cause one or more components of the circuit to perform a function or aspect of the control electronics. Functions attributable to the control electronics in the present disclosure can be embodied as one or more of software, firmware and hardware.

[0072] The electronic circuitry can comprise a microprocessor, which can be a programmable microprocessor. The electronic circuitry can be configured to regulate the supply of power. The supply of power can be supplied to the heater element in the form of a current pulse.

[0073] In some examples, the control electronics can be configured to monitor the electrical resistance of the heating element and to control the supply of power to the heating element in dependence on the electrical resistance of the heating element. In this way, the control electronics can regulate the temperature of the resistive element.

[0074] The shisha device can comprise a temperature sensor, such as a thermocouple. The temperature sensor can be operably coupled to the control electronics to control the temperature of the heating element. The temperature sensor can be positioned in any suitable location. For example, the temperature sensor can be configured to be inserted into a cartridge received within the housing to monitor the temperature of the heated aerosol-forming substrate. Additionally or alternatively, the temperature sensor can be in contact with the heating element. Additionally or alternatively, the temperature sensor can be positioned to detect the temperature at the aerosol outlet of the shisha device or a portion thereof. The sensor can transmit a signal relating to the sensed temperature to the control electronics. The control electronics can regulate the heating of the heating element in response to the signal that a suitable temperature is achieved at the sensor.

[0075] The control electronics can be operably coupled to a power source. The hookah device can include any suitable power source. For example, the power source of the hookah device can be a battery or a battery pack. The battery of the power source can be rechargeable, removable and replaceable, or rechargeable and removable and replaceable. Any suitable battery can be used. For example, heavy duty or standard batteries are available on the market, such as batteries used for industrial heavy duty power tools. Alternatively, the power source can be any type of power source, including super / hyper capacitors. Alternatively, the assembly can be connected to an external power source, and electrically and electronically designed for such purposes. Regardless of the type of power source employed, the power source preferably provides sufficient energy to enable the assembly to function properly for at least one hookah session, until the aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge is depleted, before the device is recharged or needs to be connected to an external power source. Preferably, the power source provides sufficient energy to enable the assembly to function properly for at least about 70 minutes of continuous operation of the device, before the device is recharged or needs to be connected to an external power source.

[0076] In one example, the hookah device includes an aerosol generating element including a receptacle, a heating element, an aerosol outlet, and an air inlet. The receptacle is configured to receive a tray in which a cartridge including an aerosol-forming substrate is disposed. The heating element can define at least a portion of a surface of the receptacle.

[0077] The hookah device includes an air inlet in fluid connection with the receptacle. In use, as the substrate inside the cartridge is heated, aerosol-forming agent components in the substrate are vaporized. Air flowing through the cartridge from the air inlet entrains aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming agent components in the cartridge.

[0078] Some electrically heated hookah devices employ preheated air and generally employ an air flow path such that air travels near the heat source upon inhalation. In addition, some electrically heated hookah devices employ elements that increase radiative heat transfer by increasing the surface area that is heated.

[0079] The air inlet can be in communication with a channel, which can include one or more orifices through the cartridge receptacle, such that air from outside the hookah device can flow through the channel and through the one or more orifices into the cartridge receptacle. If the channel includes more than one orifice, the channel can include a manifold to direct air flowing through the channel to each orifice. Preferably, the hookah device includes two or more air inlet channels.

[0080] As described above, the cartridge includes one or more openings (such as an inlet or outlet) formed in the body that allow air to flow through the cartridge. If the receptacle includes one or more inlet apertures, at least some of the inlets in the cartridge can be aligned with the apertures in the top of the receptacle. The cartridge can include alignment features configured to mate with complementary alignment features of the tray, and the tray can include alignment features configured to mate with complementary alignment features of the receptacle to align the inlets of the cartridge with the apertures of the receptacle when the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle.

[0081] Air entering the cartridge can flow through or past, or both, the aerosol-forming substrate, entraining aerosol, out of the cartridge and receptacle via the aerosol outlet. The aerosol-entrained air enters the container of the shisha device from the aerosol outlet.

[0082] The shisha device can include any suitable container defining an interior volume configured to contain liquid and defining an outlet in a headspace above a liquid fill level. The container can include an optically transparent or optically opaque housing to allow a consumer to view the contents contained in the container. The container can include a liquid fill limit, such as a liquid fill line. The container can be formed of any suitable material. For example, the container can include glass or a suitable rigid plastic material. Preferably, the container is removable from the portion of the shisha assembly that includes the aerosol generating element to allow a consumer to fill, clean, or clean the container.

[0083] A consumer can fill the container to a liquid level. The liquid preferably includes water, which can optionally be infused with one or more colorants, flavorants, or colorants or flavorants. For example, the water can be infused with one or both of a botanical infusion and a herbal infusion.

[0084] The aerosol entrained in the air exiting the aerosol outlet of the receptacle can travel through a conduit positioned in the container. The conduit can be coupled to the aerosol outlet of the aerosol generating element and can have an opening below the liquid fill level of the container such that the aerosol flowing through the container flows through the opening of the conduit and then through the liquid into the headspace of the container and out of the headspace outlet for delivery to a consumer.

[0085] The headspace outlet can be coupled to a hose that includes a mouthpiece for delivering aerosol to a consumer. The mouthpiece can include an activation element, such as a switch that is user-activatable, a puff sensor arranged to detect a user puffing on the mouthpiece, or both a switch that is user-activatable and a puff sensor. The activation element is operatively coupled to control electronics of the hookah device. The activation element can be wirelessly coupled to the control electronics. Activation of the activation element can cause the control electronics to activate the heating element, rather than constantly supplying energy to the heating element. Thus, use of the activation element can serve to conserve energy relative to devices that do not employ such an element to provide on-demand heating rather than constant heating.

[0086] For purposes of example, a method of using a hookah device as described herein is provided below in chronological order. The container can be separated from other components of the hookah device and filled with water. One or more of a natural fruit juice, a botanical, and a herbal infusion can be added to the water for flavoring. The amount of liquid added should cover a portion of the conduit but should not exceed a fill level marker that can optionally be present on the container. The container is then reassembled to the hookah device.

[0087] The cartridge can be placed in the tray, and the lid can be placed on the tray and a suitable force applied to cause the upper and lower piercing elements of the tray to form an opening in the cartridge. The tray and cartridge can be placed in the receptacle of the hookah device. Alternatively, the tray can be placed in the receptacle of the hookah device, the cartridge can be placed in the tray, and the lid can be placed on the tray.

[0088] The device can then be turned on. Turning on the device can initiate a heating profile of the heating element to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature at or above an evaporation temperature but below a combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate. Aerosol-forming compounds of the aerosol-forming substrate evaporate, generating an aerosol. The user can puff on the mouthpiece as desired. The user can continue to use the device as desired, or until no more aerosol is visible or delivered. In some embodiments, the device can be arranged to automatically shut off when the cartridge or compartment of the cartridge is depleted of available aerosol-forming substrate. The consumer can shut off the hookah device at any time by, for example, turning off the device.

[0089] A waterpipe device can have any suitable air management. In one example, a user's puffing action will create a suction effect causing a low pressure inside the device, which will cause outside air to flow through the air inlet of the device, into the air inlet channel and into the receptacle. The air can then flow to the cartridge in the receptacle and entrain the aerosol produced by the aerosol-forming substrate. The air entraining the aerosol then exits the aerosol outlet of the receptacle, flows through the conduit to the liquid inside the container. The aerosol will then well up out of the liquid and into the headspace above the liquid level in the container, out of the headspace outlet and through the hose and mouthpiece to the consumer. The flow of outside air and the flow of aerosol inside the waterpipe device can be driven by the user's puffing action.

[0090] When the aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge has been depleted or the waterpipe experience has ended, the user can remove the tray from the receptacle, can remove the lid from the tray, and can invert the tray to empty the cartridge into a suitable waste receptacle.

[0091] Reference will now be made to the drawings, which depict one or more embodiments described in this disclosure. It should be understood, however, that other embodiments, not depicted in the drawings, fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Like numbers refer to like parts throughout the drawings. The use of different numbers in different drawings is not intended to indicate that the parts so designated cannot be the same or similar to other parts. The drawings are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation.

[0092] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a waterpipe device. Since the interaction of the tray, cartridge, and waterpipe device is shown in more detail in Figures 2-5, for convenience the tray is omitted from Figure 1 the tray is omitted.

[0093] Figure 2A , 2B and 2C are schematic perspective views of part of an embodiment of a waterpipe device and associated tray and cartridge.

[0094] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of part of an embodiment of a waterpipe device and associated tray and cartridge.

[0095] Figure 4 is a series of schematic perspective views showing use of an embodiment of a waterpipe device and associated tray and cartridge.

[0096] Figure 5 is a series of schematic perspective views showing use of an embodiment of a waterpipe device and associated tray and cartridge.

[0097] Figure 1is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a hookah device 100. The device 100 includes a container 17 that defines an interior volume configured to hold a liquid 19 and defines a headspace outlet 15 above a fill level of the liquid 19. The liquid 19 preferably includes water, which can optionally be infused with one or more coloring agents, one or more flavoring agents, or one or more coloring agents and one or more flavoring agents. For example, the water can be infused with one or both of a botanical infusion and a herbal infusion.

[0098] The device 100 also includes an aerosol-generating element 130. The aerosol- generating element 130 includes a receptacle 140 configured to receive a tray (not shown) and a cartridge 200 including an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating element 130 also includes a heating element 160. The heating element 160 can form at least one surface of the receptacle 140. In the depicted embodiment, the heating element 160 defines a side surface of the receptacle 140. The aerosol-generating element 130 also includes an air inlet 170 that draws air into the device 100. The air enters the cartridge 200 (which is also heated by the heating element 160) to carry an aerosol generated by the aerosol-forming agent and the aerosol-forming substrate. The air exits an outlet of the aerosol-generating element 130 and enters a conduit 190.

[0099] The conduit 190 carries the air and aerosol into the container 17 below the level of the liquid 19. The air and aerosol can bubble through the liquid 19 and then exit the headspace outlet 15 of the container 17. A hose 20 can be attached to the headspace outlet 15 to carry the aerosol to a user’s mouth. A mouthpiece 25 can be attached to the hose 20 or formed as part of the hose.

[0100] In use, an exemplary air flow path of the device is indicated by arrows in Figure 1 .

[0101] The mouthpiece 25 can include an activation element 27. The activation element 27 can be a switch, button, or the like, or can be a puff sensor or the like. The activation element 27 can be placed in any other suitable location of the device 100. The activation element 27 can be in wireless communication with the control electronics 30 to place the device 100 in a state of use or to cause the control electronics to activate the heating element 160; for example, by causing the power source 35 to power the heating element 160.

[0102] The control electronics 30 and the power source 35 can be located at any suitable location of the aerosol-generating element 130, including locations other than the side of the element 130 as shown in Figure 1 .

[0103] Reference is now made to Figure 2A , 2Band 2C, the body 310 of the tray is inserted into the receptacle of the shisha device 100. The body 310 of the tray defines a cavity 311 configured to receive a cartridge 200 comprising aerosol-forming substrate. When the cartridge 200 is inserted into the cavity 311 and the body 310 is inserted into the receptacle of the shisha device 100, the cartridge 200 can be heated by the shisha device to vaporize one or more components of the aerosol-forming substrate for inhalation by a user. The tray further comprises a lid 395 for covering an open top end of the cavity formed by the body 310 of the tray. The lid 395 comprises a through hole 397 to allow air to enter the shisha device and flow through the cartridge 200. Figure 1 The tray depicted in FIGS. 1-2C comprises a handle 390 extending away from the cavity of the body 310. The handle 390 can be grasped by a user to facilitate handling of the tray and cartridge 200. The handle 390 can comprise a thermally insulating material to prevent substantial heat generated by use of the shisha device 100 from reaching the handle 390.

[0104] Figure 3 A tray 300 comprising a body 310 and a lid 395 is shown. The body 310 is a single piece having a sidewall 316 defining a cavity 311 extending from an open top end to a bottom end 318. The body 310 further has an outer wall 312 extending from a top shoulder 314 of the cavity 311. The outer wall 312 defines a second cavity 321 between the outer wall 312 and the sidewall 316. The second cavity is configured to receive a top portion of the shisha device 100 such that at least a portion of the outer wall 312 of the body 310 of the tray surrounds the shisha device 100 when the sidewall 316 of the tray 300 is received in the receptacle 140 of the shisha device 100.

[0105] The outer wall 312 of the body 310 of the tray 300 holds the body 310 in position relative to the shisha device 100. The outer wall 312 can be formed of one or more thermally insulating materials to allow a user to grasp the outer wall 312 after use of the shisha device 100 without causing discomfort to the user due to heat generated during use of the device 100.

[0106] The cavity 311 provides a space for receiving a cartridge 200 comprising aerosol-forming substrate. The sidewall 316 defining the cavity 311 is configured to contact the cartridge 200 along a length of the cartridge 200 to transfer heat from a heating element 160 forming at least a portion of the receptacle 140 of the shisha device 100 to the cartridge 200. The top shoulder 314 facilitates positioning of the cartridge 200 in the cavity 311 and guides the cartridge 200 into its operational position during insertion.

[0107] The body 310 comprises a bottom piercing element 320. The piercing element comprises a plurality of hollow elongate elements having tapered ends that pierce the cartridge 200 to form an outlet in the cartridge 200 for air to flow through the cartridge and into the conduit 190.

[0108] The lid 395 includes a through hole 397 that communicates with the hollow elongate element forming the upper piercing element 391 of the tray 300. When the lid 395 is inserted into the open top end of the cavity 311, the hollow elongate element of the piercing element 391 pierces the cartridge 200 to form an inlet for air to flow through the cartridge 200. The lid 395 can be pressed into place in the cavity 311. In some embodiments (not shown), the lid can be screwed into the cavity via a suitable thread engagement.

[0109] Reference is now made to Figure 4 , which shows an overview of a process for using a tray 300 comprising a body having an outer wall. The body 310 of the tray 300 can be placed on the hookah device 100 such that the outer wall is disposed about a portion of the hookah device and the side wall 316 is received in a receptacle of the hookah device. The cartridge 200 can be placed in the cavity formed by the body 310 of the tray 300 and the lid 395 having a through hole 397 can be placed on the body 310. Placing the lid 395 on the body 310 can pierce the top and bottom of the cartridge 200 to form an inlet and an outlet for air to flow through the cartridge 200. Once the aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge 200 is depleted or the hookah session has ended, the tray 300 can be removed from the hookah device 100, the lid 395 can be removed from the body 310 of the tray 300, and the body 310 can be inverted to dispose the cartridge 200 in a suitable waste receptacle 400.

[0110] Figure 5 An overview of a process for using a tray 300 having a body 310 that does not include an outer wall is provided. The body 310 includes a side wall that forms a cavity for receiving a cartridge 200 and for receiving in a receptacle of a hookah device 100. The body 310 includes a handle 390. When the aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge 200 is depleted or the hookah session has ended, the tray 300 can be removed from the hookah device 100 by grasping the handle 390, the lid 395 can be removed from the body 310 of the tray 300, and the body 310 can be inverted to dispose the cartridge 200 in a suitable waste receptacle 400.

[0111] Accordingly, a tray having a piercing element for use with a hookah device has been described. Various modifications and changes to the described embodiments are possible in the scope and spirit of the application. Although the present application has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the application as claimed is not to be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes of carrying out the application that are obvious to those skilled in mechanical, chemical, and aerosol generating article manufacturing or related fields intended are to be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A tray for use with a hookah device, the hookah device having a receptacle for receiving the tray, the tray comprising: a body defining a cavity for receiving a cartridge comprising aerosol-forming substrate, the cavity having an open top end into which the cartridge can be inserted and the cavity having a bottom end, wherein the body comprises a sidewall forming an inner surface of the cavity, the sidewall being configured to be received in the receptacle of the hookah device and to transfer heat from a heating element forming at least a portion of the receptacle of the hookah device to the cartridge; a piercing element extending into the cavity from the bottom end of the cavity, wherein the piercing element is positioned to pierce the cartridge at a first surface when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity of the tray and a force is applied to the cartridge to cause the first surface of the cartridge to move towards the bottom end of the cavity; and an outer wall, wherein a second cavity is formed between the outer wall and the sidewall forming the inner surface of the cavity, wherein the second cavity is engageable with a portion of the hookah device such that at least a portion of the outer wall of the body of the tray is disposed about the hookah device when the sidewall of the tray is received in the receptacle of the hookah device.

2. The tray of claim 1, wherein the sidewall is formed from a thermally conductive material.

3. The tray of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the sidewall tapers inwardly in a direction from the open top end of the cavity to the bottom end of the cavity.

4. The tray of claim 3, wherein the cavity is frustoconical.

5. The tray of any one of claims 1-3, further comprising a handle extending from the body away from the cavity.

6. The tray of claim 5, wherein the handle is formed from a thermally insulating material.

7. The tray of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the outer wall is thermally insulating from the sidewall.

8. The tray of any one of claims 1-4, comprising a lid for covering the open top end of the cavity defined by the body, wherein the lid comprises a lid piercing element extending from a surface of the lid configured to face the cavity when the lid covers the open top end of the cavity, and wherein the lid piercing element extends into the cavity and is positioned to pierce the cartridge at a second surface when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity of the tray and a force is applied to the lid to cause the lid piercing element to move towards the bottom end of the cavity.

9. An assembly comprising the tray of any one of claims 1-8 and a hookah device, wherein the hookah device comprises: a receptacle for receiving the tray; and a heating element defining at least a portion of a surface of the receptacle, the heating element being configured to heat aerosol-forming substrate within a cartridge received in the tray via the sidewall of the body of the tray to generate an aerosol.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the hookah device further comprises: a container comprising an internal volume configured to contain a liquid; and a reservoir for receiving the cartridge, the reservoir being in fluid communication with the internal volume of the container. a conduit for carrying the aerosol from the cartridge to the container.

11. An assembly comprising a tray according to any of claims 1-8 or an assembly according to claim 9 or 10, and comprising the cartridge.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge comprises nicotine.

13. An assembly according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate comprised in the cartridge comprises tobacco.

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